This was such an enjoyable read. I loved the premise and it didn't disappoint. The story was engaging and the words flowed easily. I felt completely invested in the characters and following their emotional journey.

After a traumatic event, Pearl Winter has suffered from crippling agoraphobia. For 43 years, she hasn't even been as far as the garden in her home at Highview. Having lost her parents, the garden has become overgrown. 18 year old Connor is keen to take up the challenge but cake and conversation lead to him wanting to help Pearl on her mission to go outside.

I felt sorry for Connor. It is all too often the case that children are set to follow their parent's dreams. In this case, going to York to study Law, when his dream is to be a landscape gardener. Connor's friendship group were well cast- Derek and Molly with little Tommy.I didn't feel quite as connected with Nate's story, which is featured in the alternate chapters.

The ending came together so well and I loved the premise that Connor and Molly might get together.

I will definitely recommend this read and will be looking out for more by this author.

A sweet story of friendships, across the years and across generations. Pearl lives in a house in the Devon moors and has not been outside for 43 years. Her story is told in installments and from different viewpoints of people who are or have been involved in her life. It is a great feel good read though may be in places a little predictable. It is a great beach read.
Emotions are dealt with well, not sure about the solutions to Pearl's problems though, sometimes may be a little too naive but it is a nice story, with mostly nice characters. My thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Totally absorbing. Heartbreaking, heartwarming, emotional and inspirational.
Shines a light on mental health and the lack of adequate support and treatment.
Demonstrates the power of friendships across generations and how kindness can be such a great comfort. And the joy of a second chance at love.
Such an uplifting and positive story that I couldn't put down.

Pearl is all alone and hasn't left her home for 43 years. When she hires a gardener to deal with her overgrown garden, a friendship develops. Trauma from the past must be faced to help Pearl, Connor and Nate find a future. Beautifully written with engaging characters. Full of hope and kindness.

I enjoyed this book so much! I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it was full of friendship, caring & love. Such great characters that shone with their empathy & understanding. Talk about a feel good book, even with a couple of twists that were not expected.
Read about Pearl & Nate, their lives without each other & eventually together. Read & enjoy!

4.75/5 ✨ Many, many thanks to the publisher for approving/inviting me to review this gem of a novel. I am so in love with Reasons to Go Outside, and I cannot wait for the book to be out so that more people can read it! This book is now, one of my top favorite heart-warming reads. 💕

First of all, how is this Esme King's debut? Her writing style is truly mesmerizing ~ it felt lyrical to be honest. Her words held my attention from the first page and did not let go until the very last line. I am really, really impressed. Esme introduced us to Pearl ~ the woman who's story is the heart of Reasons To Go Outside. She suffers from Agarophobia and hasn't been out of her home for 43 years. The summer of 1976 instilled a deep fear in her to be out on her own; and the Summer season of book's present timeline changed her life yet again. We get to see Pearl's life change, as she hires eighteen-year old Connor as a gardener for her home and forms an unexpected friendship with him. And what a beautiful friendship it was.... 💜

My heart literally glowed with happiness while reading Reasons To Go Outside! Reading Pearl, Connor and Nate's story! You'd think the number of POVs will make reading the book a bit of a chore, but it honestly made the experience so much better! The friendship and found family theme of the book was really beautifully written about. I highlighted a lot of paragraphs on my kindle while reading it, because there were SO MANY moments I loved oh my gosh! All of the secondary characters made my heart smile uncountable times. Pearl's story had so much depth and emotion ~ reading about her journey was such such an impactful experience for me. The way Connor, Molly and Derek's family didn't hesitate for a moment to help Pearl out with her fears ~ it made me hope that there are actually people like them out there. :') And Nate's friends were such angels too! I loved seeing his interactions with the people he worked with in Happy Tails ~ an animal rescue shelter. (how amazing is that?) I loved seeing how Nate found solace in an unexpected place. Connor's storyline about dealing with his grief from losing his mother, his strained relationship with his father along with his struggles with following his dreams were such thoughtful aspects of the story too. ✨

This book felt like a big, warm hug. It was cozy, moving and uplifting ~ definitely a book to cheer you up during a gloomy day! I cannot wait to read more from Esme King!! 💜

⭐️ 4.5 ⭐️
Rounded up to 5 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and Esme King for the eARC, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Reasons to Go Outside is an absolute corker of a debut novel and one I easily devoured in two sittings.

Beautifully written featuring a stellar cast of convincing characters — and what a thoroughly delightful, quirky, motley crew they are; relatable, well-crafted characters with big hearts and personalities to match.

With an interesting, intriguing storyline, I was thoroughly invested from beginning to end. I laughed and I cried alongside Pearl, Nate, Connor, and the rest of the gang.

A wonderful story of friendship, love and hope. It’s extremely poignant (sometimes heart-wrenching), but it’s also an uplifting and life-affirming read. A ginormous, joyful, hug-in-a-book.

I absolutely loved reading this book, it pulled me in from the first page and kept me hooked. The main characters are Pearl & Connor but we meet plenty of other people along the way that feature in their story & their journey. A wonderful heartwarming book that I heartily recommend.

An absolutely enthralling read. I read this book in one sitting. It’s a poignant read dealing with some very serious issues and how they effect the characters. Three main characters whose stories interweave. Beautifully written, a book that will stay with you long after you’ve finished it

What a beautiful read. Spread over a timeline of over 40 years this is full of wonderful characters and a brilliant story. Pearl and Connor are looking for eachother without realising and when they meet, their lives change completely. With a few tears and lots of smiles I loved this story from the very start.

An enjoyable read, nothing in this book irked me at all.. it was really good!

Pearl hasn’t stepped outside her front door for over 40 years, what happened back in 1976 which caused her to have ‘the fear’

Connor is 18 and feeling obliged to follow his Dads wishes to study law but really he wants to stay local and follow his own dreams

Nate lives alone, has just lost his job and starts work at an animal shelter, can he get some confidence back

When Connor answers Pearls advert for a gardener, it changes the destiny of all three of them. Pearl and Connor were definitely meant to meet.

I liked all the characters plus the way the book was written in short sharp chapters… an easy read and one I would recommend.

Thanks to netgalley & the publisher for a digital ARC in return for an honest review.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

The story was very well written about love and friendship lasting over time and generations.

The characters of Pearl, Connor, Nate were characters that will stay with me. .

I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to reading what the author writes next.

A wonderfully heartwarming book which I just loved reading. A gloriously gentle read giving back one's faith in humanity, kindness and community spirit. Delightful characters tackling everyday issues but pulling together being there for each other I just wanted to bask in the story's warmth forever. Evoking a whole range of emotions without being cloying it is just a really lovely book that develops and rolls along at a natural pace. One of the very few books I'd love to give more than 5 stars too.

A really wonderful and sad at times but heartwarming story about love, friendship, overcoming challenges in life and loneliness.

Reclusive Pearl and Connor her new gardener and friend who meet and their worlds open up together and intertwine so beautifully. The story is told from three different rent perspectives. Pearl, Connor and Nate who we find out more about within the story.

The characters are very well written and thought out and I found I was easily turning the pages as I was enjoying the book so much. I read it in 2 sittings!

Very highly recommended and I shall definitely seek out more from the author Esme King in the future.

Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton publishers and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Central to the story is the friendship between Pearl and Connor. Both of them facing difficulties in their lives. Pearl is housebound through fear and Connor is due to go to university. Both of them hiding what they really want. Overcoming fears through friendship and support to make decisions that impacts on many others.
I hope there is a follow on book to continue the story.

I loved this story, it's life affirming, hear wrenching and heartwarming at the same time.
It moved me, made me smile, and made me feel good.
I loved the storytelling and the great characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I absolutely loved it the characters were fabulous and the story so real and believable, I will be recommending it to everyone I know.

Quite possibly one of the best books I have ever read- 5 stars does not do it justice.
Pearl is a wonderful character, complex and thoughtfully portrayed in her isolated little world.
As that world expands to include Connor, her new friend and gardener, her horizons change to include new people and experiences and to possibly make contact with old friends too.
Each step Pearl takes in very emotional and there are scenes in the book that moved me to tears.
You will be rooting for Pearl, Connor and the mysterious Nate from the word go.

This really is a heart warming book about second chances, unexpected love and the joy of looking out for someone other than yourself. Full of wonderful characters and lots of cake, this is a lovely, gentle read that will make you smile and cry a little bit but restore your faith in human nature.

Reasons To Go Outside by Esme King tells the story of Pearl Winters, a fifty-nine-year-old woman who has not gone beyond her front door in forty-nine years. This novel is a beautiful life-affirming love story. It is a debut novel that any seasoned writer will be glad to be credited with. The Dartmoor's setting is brought to life with a vivid description of the view from Pearl's house. We are also introduced to Connor Matthews, an eighteen-year-old Gardner whom Pearl employs to maintain her garden. In his quest to help Pearl overcome her agoraphobia, Connor enlists the help of his friends. Here, we are introduced to characters that are unique and relatable and bring a new dimension to the story. Nate Williams is another character that features prominently in the story and Pearl's life. The book is delightful to read as each character's innate trait intertwines for a common purpose. The message of hope is conveyed brilliantly in this book. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging read.